"FREE" CAR HIRE

[Elaine62]

We've booked a package this year staying on I Drive and will be mostly using cabs or the I Ride to get around. We've noticed that our booking does include free car hire with Dollar, but obviously insurance is on top of that. Has anyone ever booked a trip like this and just taken the car during the holiday for a few days?

If not then does anyone know if this is possible?

[heathercobbett]

I doubt it Elaine;almost certainly your tour company is making money out of your FREE car and it would probably be cheaper for you to have booked your car independantly through the link above which is truly fully inclusive

Us Brits were brainwashed by Med packages which came out cheaper than by booking things individually However,for US hlidays you are always better making up your own package

.And also you get exactly what you want.You are very unlikely to get a villa of the quality of those on the 3 OV sites when you book a package.These are owned by people who are passionate about their houses

I would take the car anyway as it will add greatly to the enjoyment of your vacation

I am really sorry if it is not what you want to hear but at least you will be forewarned for next year! Have a great time

[E. Cosgrove]

Elaine, you may find it is cheaper not to take the "FREE" car but to hire independantly, there have been several threads about this in the past and people have found out they are actually better off doing it this way.

Check out this thread
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic_24445.asp

I agree with Heather would definitely consider car hire for some if not all of your trip.

[Robert5988]

The insurance on the 'free' car will almost certainly be far more than hiring a car independantly with full insurance.

[DaveL]

It will almost certainly be a Group A car (shoe box on wheels. You will need to upgrade to a slightly bigger car to be comfortable (extra money). Then there will be no CDW, LWI, airport charge, tyres and batteries charge or tax included. I'm guessing that will cost you at least another $25 per day which will mean that your free car will cost you at least $350 without an upgrade as they will give you a two week voucher.

If you only want a car for some of the time then the advice you already have about the car hire link at the top of this page is good.

Dave

[Kazzie]

I agree, it will be cheaper to hire a car yourself using the car hire link on this site. You will most probably pay nearer twice the price for the "FREE CAR". Plus if you do not want the car for all of your time there you can pick and choose when you do want one.

Karen

[GrahamC]

Like lunches, there is no such thing as a free car.

I would however hire one, so is so much more to see, and the car will give you the freedom to do it.

[mfairhurst]

All the hire car companys like to up grade you so be aware as all add so much for each day plus tax , Dollar said to us there is no economy car now so they start with different cars than here and different makes of car shapes and models than uk not , ,They sometime charge you for a tank of fuelwhen you return the car and add admin on top so ask can you fill it up before you take it back as you can shop around as we all do in uk even for a dollar or two and then you can avoid paying admin , We learn something as we co more often ask the company that you have booked with is it all fully inclusive as you will need it in usa , enjoy the holiday you learn a lot even first time .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

[MICKEYSDEN]

We booked a pachage to Florida before we bought our villa and had to pay an extra £400 for car insurance on the 'free' car, if you just want a car for a few days book one from the link above, you can then choose which days you would like a car and the price is inclusive of insurance.

[heathercobbett]

Elaine,you need to check your small print very carefully as you may have to pay the CDW whether you take the car or not

It is a long time since I booked a flight with a "free" car but when I said I did not want the car,just the flight.the flight price went up.That says it all!